At HopSkipDrive, our commitment to safety is unwavering. The HopSkipDrive Safety Advisory Council—a first-of-its-kind group of leaders from fields like road safety, interpersonal safety, and child development—is central to that commitment. They challenge our thinking and provide invaluable guidance to help ensure we’re always setting the highest bar for safety in student transportation.
Today, we are thrilled to announce the expansion of our Council with the addition of two distinguished experts in child development and safety: Jenifer Eaton, MA, BCBA, and Steve Nederveld.
Elevating Specialty Transportation Through Advanced CareDriver Education
Our mission has always been to create opportunity for all through mobility. As we continue to lead in specialty transportation, we are doubling down on our investment in the programs that make that possible. We believe specialized transportation requires specialized education, and that means proactively equipping CareDrivers with a deeper understanding of the students they support.
That is why we are thrilled that Jenifer Eaton and Steve Nederveld are not only joining our Safety Advisory Council but are also key partners in developing our enhanced CareDriver educational programs. This new initiative will integrate specialized education modules into the CareDriver onboarding process, designed to empower them with leading-edge skills to better support all riders, including those with IEPs and diverse neurodevelopmental needs. This commitment ensures we continue to set the highest standard for care and safety in the industry.
Meet Our New Members
Steve Nederveld brings over 25 years of leadership in crisis response, safety, and trauma-informed care within educational settings. As a former Director of Mental Health for Cherry Creek Schools, he has a proven track record of improving student outcomes and enhancing support for students with unique needs. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to build the industry's most comprehensive and empathetic specialty transportation solution.
Jenifer Eaton, MA, BCBA, is the co-founder of Rooted in Play, an organization dedicated to exceptional behavioral health care. With a Master’s in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University and over a decade of experience in applied behavior analysis, she is an expert in evidence-based, holistic care. Her guidance will directly inform the new education courses that will become a core part of the CareDriver onboarding process.
"Jenifer and Steve’s expertise is exactly what we seek for our Safety Advisory Council,” said Jen Brandenburger, SVP of Safety at HopSkipDrive. “Their deep knowledge in supporting children with diverse needs will be invaluable as we strengthen our specialized transportation solutions and continue to build the industry's most trusted platform."
Please join us in welcoming Steve and Jenifer to the HopSkipDrive Safety Advisory Council. Their deep expertise in child development and trauma-informed care will help us continue to raise the bar for safety and innovation, helping us build an even safer and more empathetic transportation solution for every child and family we serve.
